Morning: Historic Core & Royal Madrid
09:00 – Royal Palace (Palacio Real)
Arrive at opening time. Book a timed-entry ticket online in advance.
Spend 1–1.5 hours inside (Throne Room, state apartments, armoury).
Also see the exterior of Almudena Cathedral next door and Plaza de Oriente.
10:45 – Plaza Mayor & surroundings
Walk through the Austrias quarter.
Stop at Mercado de San Miguel for a quick snack or coffee.
Continue to Puerta del Sol (Km 0 of Spain).
Midday: Art & Lunch
12:00 – Prado Museum
Book tickets online. Focus on the highlights (90–120 minutes is realistic):
Velázquez’s Las Meninas
Goya’s works (including the Black Paintings)
El Greco and Bosch
13:30–14:45 – Lunch
Options:
Tapas in La Latina (Cava Baja area)
Classic bocadillo de calamares near Plaza Mayor
Casual spot in Barrio de las Letras
Afternoon: Park & Views
15:00 – Parque del Retiro
Stroll the park (Crystal Palace, the big pond/Estanque, and gardens).
Very pleasant after the museum.
16:30 – Optional short walk
Puerta de Alcalá and Plaza de Cibeles if you have energy.
Evening: Sunset & Tapas
18:00–19:00 – Templo de Debod
Egyptian temple with excellent sunset views over the western part of the city. Free entry.
Afterwards – Dinner & nightlife
Tapas crawl in La Latina or Malasaña
Or a more formal dinner near Gran Vía
Quick Tips
Must-book in advance: Royal Palace and Prado Museum tickets.
Walking distance: Roughly 6–8 km total (very manageable).
Transport: Almost everything is walkable. Use Metro only if needed (Lines 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 are useful).
Pace adjustment:
Short on time → Skip the full Prado interior and just do the exterior + Retiro.
Love art → Spend more time at the Prado and drop Templo de Debod.